Trauma Caused by Car Accidents
When you’re involved in a potentially life-threatening situation, it can take some time to process what happened. Replaying the event in your mind, or feeling as if you are reliving the situation, is not uncommon. Traumatic stress is something that’s often associated with veterans or victims of sexual assault, abuse, or other crimes. However, it is important to be aware that it can also happen due to car accidents. The unexpected nature of these events and the serious personal injuries that often result can leave victims suffering emotional problems for weeks or even months after the fact. Learn more about trauma caused by car accidents.
If you are suffering emotional distress after a car accident, contact Surasky Law Firm, LLC, for assistance. You may be entitled to compensation.
Risk Factors for Car Accident Trauma
When car accidents happen, victims can end up suffering serious physical injuries. These may require extensive medical treatments, and often take time to heal. Unfortunately, the emotional impacts are not always as obvious. When dealing with trauma after a car accident, the person may not share what they are experiencing or get the care they need. As a result, they can end up suffering needlessly, sometimes for years into the future.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) impacts roughly 10 percent of all car accident victims. The more serious the crash, the greater the likelihood that PTSD will be a factor. Other circumstances that can increase your risk include:
Experiencing another traumatic event in the six months before or after a car accident
Having emotional problems prior to the crash or a family history of psychological disorders
How police, EMS workers, and other emergency workers responded to you after the crash
Whether someone you care about was killed or seriously injured as a result
Symptoms of PTSD are not likely to disappear on their own. The only way to resolve these issues is by talking with others and, in some cases, getting professional counseling.
Signs of Car Accident Trauma
Unlike physical injuries caused by car accidents, the emotional trauma that can result is less likely to be noticed by the victim or even their family and friends. Subtle personality changes and an increasingly fearful nature are often attributed to emotional trauma.
However, it is important to realize that car accident trauma can take a serious toll on your relationships, your career, and other areas of your life. You should also be aware of the following signs:
Anxiety over driving or even riding in a car
Suffering intrusive thoughts about the accident when engaged in other activities
Experiencing nightmares and other sleep disturbances
Feeling increasingly depressed and withdrawn from friends, family, and your usual activities
Contact Us Today for Help
Trauma caused by car accidents is no joke. At the Surasky Law Firm, LLC, we help victims get the compensation they need to recover. In addition to covering any medical costs or lost wages you incur, you may also be entitled to a financial settlement for the emotional pain and trauma you experience. To discuss your case and the options available, contact our Aiken car accident attorney today.
